...note... After Mike published the "Golden Handcuffs" post he publicly stated that he did not intend it to be so negative. [yah... I've been there. I start typing and my passion pours out and all the sudden I'm fire up like crazy] So I hope my criticism of this article is pointed in the right direction. ... here goes....

I can not begin to state how much I disagree with the conclusion of this post by @mcrittenden . I believe he feels the way he feels. I believe he has experienced what he says he experienced. But the conclusion is not a typical one. Most of us who are making tremendous earnings in Drupal are NOT bored, unchallenged and lamenting the lack of fun and elegance of coding. We are excited, challenged, evolving, stretched ppl who are having a blast with what we believe to be the BEST community associated with the BEST software out there. [yah... we're pretty biased but THAT is the enthusiasm you run into on a large scale]

I am not saying that he's lying. I believe he is telling the truth when he says he's bored and unchallenged and despises the lack of elegance. I liken that to some one who really misses their horse after trading it in for a Model-T. I get it. We did just find for a very very long long time with the horse. Horses are still used today and not just for entertainment but for very real and practical reasons. There's simply NO WAY that some one is going to have a relationship with a car in any similar manner that they did with their horse.
I fully respect @mcrittenden and his position here. When ever some one goes on a rant about what they don't like about Drupal [and OH how often this happens!] I find that many of the points are valid and I can not write them off and dismiss them out of hand. Such is the case here.
I will say this.... Drupal is a career and a discipline and a community. I encounter some of the same challenges that @mcrittenden does. I don't have the same reaction. I get better and better at this and I have many friends who I can reach out to. Whereas shops have a lot of BRAIN POWER in-house, we independents stick together and hit each other up with those WTF moments. Between all the DrupalCamp, DrupalCons, local UserGroups, Internet Relay Chat, Skype, Email... I'm very connected to the community and I get answers to my questions when ever I need them. If I know an area of development is going to be extra challenging.. I will factor in some room to pay my friends who know things I do not. Yah... We get freebys from each other ALL THE TIME but I really love it when I tell some one I have a couple hundred bucks to spend on them to teach me something or to architect a solution. I've even spent thousands like this before. I knew the client had needs and I connected them with another shop to handle a very specific piece of the puzzle. It worked well for all concerned. And by the way... this was FUN and Challenging and the solution was very Elegant.

CONCLUSION:
I DEFINITELY run into issues with Drupal from time to time. Just like sharepoint and vignette and ez-publish and auto-mechanics and horse-handlers do. My reaction is a little different. I have made the choice long long ago that DRUPAL is my vehicle. I don't want to use Joomla like I used to. I don't want to use Sharepoint like I started to and was studying in 2007. I chose Drupal. Now that I have made that choice I am enjoying great money and great challenges and an even greater community. Our system has its quarks; some are minor and some not so minor. Regardless, this is the path I'm on.
We, the community, are continuing to improve "this area" and "that area" and yes I'll even agree that some areas are getting a little worse with each release. This is no secret and I'm part of two different teams that are assessing the situation and proposing action and then encouraging and seeking funds for that re-action. We're seriously on a roll here with this stuff.

@mcrittenden I get it, man. This stuff [called Drupal] can ROYALY piss a guy, or gal, off at times. But what you describe as boredom and click monkeys is a drastically inaccurate description of what I, or anyone I know, do for a living. I do know of many HOBBYIST Drupalers who just want to point and click and they are using Drupal as an overgrown geo-cities but I know that's not who you're talking about here.

I really appreciate the article! This global conversation is sparking other conversations that are enacting change! So.. THNX!

Doug Vann [Drupal Trainer, Consultant, Developer]
http://dougvann.com